When to Fire a Coach

Please note: When I began gathering my thoughts this afternoon on this topic, I initially wanted to cover everything in one big post. As it evolved, it has become clear that this topic needs multiple parts, if only to serve those with similar attention spans to mine. So below please find part 1, with the sequel inevitably to follow...

With the Bulls on national television tonight, what better time to discuss the impending firing of Vinny Del Negro? If you have not yet come to the conclusion that the team will have to let him go, then sorry, you're not going to get any help from me here.

As it has become apparent to anyone who actually follows the game, if the Bulls are serious about actually competing in the NBA some day,VDN is gone. It's just a matter of when. For this reason, I'm not going to bother going into all the specifics as to why he is not the right coach for this team. What I'd much rather focus on is the timing of his release, whatever it may be, and when really is the appropriate time to jettison a failing coach.

Mid-Season

If you're ready to give up on a coach, and perhaps even on a team - I'll go into that more later - then mid-season might be the best option. There is no point to letting a coach flail about in the wind when everyone knows that he's a goner. This is also a good way to head off any potential hostility that can arise out of a failing team's locker room, especially when dealing with a coach that does not have a lot of professional experience. Heated exchanges between players and management can sometimes creep in and eventually spill over through media members and poison the fan base.

There is also the chance that your team has all the potential to be contenders, but they just need the proper coach to catalyze the process. However, this scenario is dependent on having the right coach available and ready to step in and take over a squad. The new coach also would most likely have to be someone with enough experience to immediately garner the respect of the players. Without this, players may quickly tune out the new coach, or may never even tune him in from the start.

The mid-season fire can lead to different issues, however. It can be a signal to fans - either intended or not - that the season is over. It can cause discord in the locker room when a player-favorite is let go. A mid-season firing also inevitably leads to media or fan speculation on the direction of the team: "Was he fired too soon? Did management actually give him a chance? Who out there could have done better with this situation?" None of it may be remotely true, or even worth thinking about, but it will be talked about nonetheless, another casualty of the 24-hour sportsnewscycle.

In the end, while potentially productive, a mid-season firing can cause a lot of problems for an organization. Is it the best choice in some cases? Probably, but those are decisions that take a lot of time and effort to properly arrive at and execute.

Up next: Post-season